Performance impact of autonomous trucks on flexible pavements: an evaluation framework and case studies

ABSTRACT

The emerging technology of Autonomous Trucks (ATs) will significantly impact the transportation sector. Unique traffic characteristics of ATs, such as lane choice and lateral positioning, could intensify the potential risk of aggravated distress development on flexible pavements. In response, the present work proposes a framework to evaluate this impact, focusing on critical factors like wheel wander, load spectra, and AT road-sharing percentages. We utilized this framework to assess AT's effect on Texas' flexible pavements and conducted a parametric analysis, exploring their response to AT implementation and identifying the significance of some key parameters in different pavement designs. The key findings offer insights into how AT implementation could potentially reduce the lifespan of flexible pavements based on existing data. These insights will prove beneficial in designing future pavements that are better suited to accommodate the rising influx of autonomous trucks. Though some AT attributes are yet undetermined due to their emergent nature, our robust framework will accommodate new data when it is available, serving as a continuously improving evaluation tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Autonomous trucks
• flexible pavements
• wheel wander
• load spectra
• performance impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).